What To Watch in the Devils Opening Week

The New Jersey Devils have their hands full to start the season. How full? Their first week features three consecutive road games against the Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Columbus Blue Jackets. Then they host their home opener against the Florida Panthers.

There’s a saying about the first month of any season. It all counts but doesn’t matter. Meaning, it’s hard to read into the games, but a win is still a win and two points are still two points. The key isn’t this team’s record after four games as much as how the Devils are playing in this stretch. 

Can The Devils Play Physical?

The big picture question with the Devils is whether they can play a physical game. It will always be an underlying question with this team when Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt are their building blocks. This week, they play the Hurricanes, who love to impose their will with the forecheck, and the Lightning, who, if the preseason was any indication, are trying to play a more physical game. 

The Devils must prove they can go toe-to-toe with those teams. If they can do that, then they might be good enough to beat a team like the Panthers, who, without question, will play a heavy game. The Devils can try to make these games fast-paced and high-flying contests, but they won’t be, and they must adjust because of it. 

This is a big week for Connor Brown and the third-line skaters. They can prove to the Devils why they are the key to their success this season and in the playoffs. Brown does it all and was brought in this summer to help round out the Devils. He can make his mark early, and so can the rest of the bottom six. 

The Top Six Chemistry

The Devils have Hughes leading one line and Nico Hischier leading the other. It’s the core to build around. The question is how the rest of the forwards mesh with them. Hughes and Bratt form a dynamic duo on the top line, and the question is, who is the other winger who will round things out? 

Maybe it’s Timo Meier. The power forward can play alongside Hughes, and if not, he’s the ideal winger for Hischier’s line. There’s also Dawson Mercer, who has had ups and downs but can score and score in bunches. If Mercer finds consistency, he can become a top-six skater. 

The Devils have the talent to have a great top six. The question for them is whether they can put it all together or not. It’s why the first week is a big one for Sheldon Keefe and the coaching staff. This is his chance to mix and match the forward lines and find what works and what doesn’t for the season to come. 

Devils Goaltending Holding Up

Last season, the goaltending duo of Jake Allen and Jacob Markstrom became a strength. The forward unit dealt with injuries, and the duo willed the Devils to the playoffs. The keyword is duo, which is what the Devils need them to be early on. 

Allen and Markstrom will likely split starts at the start of the season. The big thing is that both goaltenders continue to keep the unit great. Sure, Markstrom can start the season hot, and it’s intriguing to lean on him, but the Devils must keep splitting starts to keep them fresh for the season ahead. It’s a long season, and the team must keep that in mind with the goaltending being no exception. 

Luke Hughes Being Ready, Not Rusty

Luke Hughes held out all summer in hopes of a big contract. He got one with a week to spare. It’s a big sigh of relief for the Devils to lock in their best young blueliner for the long term, but it came after months of negotiations. 

The hope for the Devils is that Hughes isn’t rusty. He’s a defenseman who needed the camp to prepare for the season, especially if he’s expected to play the point on the power play. The first few games will be a small sample size of what’s to come for the season ahead. The Devils hope he’ll be a key part of the blue line, but a slow start will be concerning. 

For Keefe, it’s about easing Hughes back into the lineup. The good news for the Devils is that they already have Dougie Hamilton to operate the point and take on top-pair ice time. Hughes doesn’t need to save the day early on and be the top-pair option. The Devils are hoping he is on the long run, and a strong week from the young skater will only be a great sign of what’s to come.